A study on the effect of biochar and wheat straw application on nitrogen fertilizer utilization in barley using 15N isotope technology

Today, problems such as global climate change and its consequences such as floods, droughts, melting glaciers, ocean water level rise are considered globally, and actions should be taken immediately to contain these problems. Many sources pointed to the positive aspects of using organic matter such as biochar to retain soil moisture and plant nutrients, reducing nitrate leaching and greenhouse gas emissions. Biochar is a carbon-rich compound produced by pyrolysis of natural organic matter. In the present study, 0% biochar (B1), 2.5% biochar (B2), 5% biochar (B3), and 7.5% biochar (B4), 2.5% wheat straw (W1), and 5% straw (W2) were added to soil with clay loam texture (S1) and sandy loam soil (S2). This pot experiment was implemented based on a completely randomized design in three replications in the greenhouse using 15N Isotope tracing method. Due to biochar application, Crop yield and nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency increased. This increase was particularly significant in S1B4 treatment (P < 0.01) and reached up to 35%. Straw reduced nitrogen fertilizer utilization in S1W2 and S2W2 treatments by 94% and 87%, respectively